Sept 2017 - Back to the Drawing Board - Final entries

Hi All,

This has been a great challenge. I'm going to away for two weeks and wont have time to work on this any more. I know I will never been a fabulous artist and lost my creative mojo for awhile. So this was a great chance to find it again.

WIP1

WIP2

Rework of the first Picture I ever tried to take to finish.
It was a forum challenge to draw a Power Puff Gladiator.

WIP 1WIP 1


WIP 2 & 3WIP 2

WIP 4

Is it that time already? Well, yes. Yes it is apparently, so here goes.

Charlotte:
As you accurately pointed out, EVERYBODY likes Art Nouveau when it's done right. And you've certainly done it right here.
The linework is lovely and smooth, and provides a beautiful flow throughout the picture that makes it easy to look at and enjoy, and in this area (and others, but even more so here) it easily surpasses the previous picture.
Also the little creature is so intricate in all its detailed design especially the layered skin that hangs down beneath the chin.
Finally the colours have a brilliant luminosity to them giving that kind of "stained-glass window" effect that makes this particular style so appealing.

Phoenixdee:
It was really interesting to finally see your old pic, especially how you teased us and didn't reveal it until the end. And the thing that stands out to me is how the two pictures have a completely different mood. Even though the second one has much more detail, technical rendering and greater anatomical accuracy, I still find that they work well together as a pair, like a diptych. It's like the character is emerging from a different time in her life and each image makes me appreciate the other one, like a complementary balance between the memories of the past and hopes for the future.

Segujo:
I liked this right from the start. The first sketches had a natural authenticity to the pose which showed a greater skill and understanding than that displayed in the older pic. And as the image developed I found myself liking the differences from that original painting. That one was a typical badass poster girl, posing for the viewer, while the second one showed someone that looked like an actual real person in thought and contemplation.
I'm a bit undecided about the background. I suspect that was a deadline issue and given time you would have added more detail there. It is quite a big contrast from the amazing crisp edges of the figure and the clean definition of those skin tones (also that little line of shadow beneath the bottom edge of the skirt is terrific,) but I suppose the softer distant rocks also act as a way to focus your attention on the character too.
Either way, it's a fine improvement on the original.

mrmic:
Nice to see a new face diving into a challenge. Sorry you didn't get the chance to develop your idea further but I enjoyed seeing your older picture anyway.
I think it's a very clever design, I do like those stylized silhouettes as logos. And that kind of thing wouldn't look out of place in the Inktober challenge. Feel free to dive in there too.

Voting time.

This is a really tough one. Do I vote on the new picture? Or its connection to the old? And what criteria do you judge that by?
I think Charlotte's shows the greatest technical improvement. Phoenixdee's manages to cleverly complement the original in a way that transcends both individual images. And Segujo's pic shows an improvement of psychological depth and artistic maturity.
I could easily select a criterion where each one is the winner so picking one seems a little arbitrary and unfair.
But who said life is fair!

Gonna go with Segujo.
It was my gut feeling from the start.
(Apologies to all the others.)

I Think that it's superclear who the Winner this month should be. Charlottes piece is really crisp and breaths professionalism. The dragon creature is awesome!
She gets my vote!

Phoenixdee. Good work and nice progress. The old one is nice but so many details are blurred away. It is still a nice Picture with pleasing colors. The new one has much more details i Believe you took much more time to look at refernces and really study what you where drawing... hence much more details.
In my opinion maybe it should have had the Little darker tone from the first one...?

A big hand to Valence for the engaged critics! U are right in both assumptions of the background... 1) It is blurred away not to take focus and 2) a work of haste... Nothing I'm proud of...
Thank you!